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If you want to do wireless networking, your first step is to install a wireless access point. All of your wireless gear — laptops, PDAs, cameras, media centers, printers — connect to your network using radio waves instead of cables, and a wireless access point (WAP) is the device that creates your radio wave network.
As the name implies, a wireless access point gives wireless devices access to a network. The network may include other devices that are connected by Ethernet cables, or the network may consist entirely of wireless connections. Whatever type of network you need, your first step in setting up a wireless network is to buy and configure a WAP.
Choose a wireless access point
1. Decide if the wireless access point (WAP) will also serve as a router.
A router allows your network to share a broadband (cable or DSL) Internet connection, as well as connect your wireless devices to Ethernet wired computers. WAPs with built-in routers are widely available.
2. Count the number of Ethernet cable ports on the WAP.
3. Use a router/WAP with four Ethernet ports or a router/WAP/DSL modem with only one Ethernet port.
At the very least, a WAP/router should have an Ethernet port labeled WAN for connecting to a broadband modem. WAN (wide area network) usually refers to a very large network such as the Internet. You may also need some LAN Ethernet ports for connecting to Ethernet wired computers. Your home network is a LAN, which stands for local area network.
4. Determine which Wi-Fi standards your WAP needs to support.
The 802.11g standard is faster than 802.11b, and 802.11g WAPs are backwards-compatible with 802.11b devices. If you also have 802.11a gear, you'll need a WAP that supports 802.11a.
Configure your wireless hardware
1. Connect your WAP to a computer using an Ethernet cable.
If your ultimate plan is to connect all devices wirelessly, you can disconnect this Ethernet cable later, after you have finished configuring your WAP and router.
2. If you have a broadband modem, connect it to the WAN port on your wireless access point using an Ethernet cable.
3. Make sure that the modem is on and connected to your Internet Service Provider (ISP).
4. Start up your computer.
If your computer has Windows 2000, Windows XP, or Mac OS X, make sure that you log in with a user account that has administrator rights.
5. Plug in the power connector for the WAP and, if the WAP has a power switch, turn it on at this time.
6. After you have logged in to the router and performed the initial setup, you can disconnect the Ethernet cable and link all of your computers wirelessly.
 | For best performance and Wi-Fi range, position your wireless access point as high as possible and away from metal or stone walls. Also avoid placing the WAP near electronic devices, such as microwave ovens and the base units for 2.4 GHz cordless phones. |
Log in to the access point
1. Launch a Web browser, such as Internet Explorer, and click Stop in the browser toolbar to stop any Web pages from loading.
2. In the Address bar, type the default IP address for your access point and press the Enter key.
If the connection is successful, you should see a log in dialog box.
3. Enter the default administrative user name and password for your WAP.
The default password should be listed in the WAP's documentation. Often, the default user name is blank and the default password is admin.
Change the admin password
1. Log in to the router WAP using a Web browser (refer to the previous task).
2. Click the tab that contains administrative controls.
On some routers, admin controls are located on the Tools tab.
3. Type your new password in both of the password text boxes provided.
Try to choose a password that is somewhat complex; include both letters and numbers. Avoid easily guessed passwords, such as the name of your pet. The router's password should be changed as soon as possible because hackers know the default passwords programmed into new routers.
4. Click OK or Apply.
| 192. 168.0.1 is the default IP address for many WAP/routers. Linksys routers usually use the IP address 192.168.1.1 instead. If Internet Explorer is unable to connect to this address, check the router's documentation to see if you should use a different IP address. |
Set the SSID
1. Log in to the access point and find the wireless controls.
Most access points have a Wireless tab or a Wireless button.
2. Enter a word in the SSID text box. SSID is the name that wireless devices use to identify your access point.
If you want to keep your wireless network more private from others, choose a cryptic SSID which combines letters and numbers.
3. Click OK or Apply.
Activate the wireless radio
1. Log in to the access point and find the wireless controls.
Most access points have a Wireless tab or a Wireless button.
2. Select the On radio button and click OK or Apply.
If you're going to be away for several days, temporarily turn off the wireless radio to prevent others from using your wireless signal.
Set up remote access point management
1. Determine the IP address for the computer from which you want to be able to access your router/WAP over the Internet.
To quickly determine the IP address of the computer on which you're currently working, visit a Web site such as www.whatismyip.com or www.showmyip.com. Your computer's current IP address appears on-screen.
2. At your local network, log in to the router/WAP control panel and open the controls for remote access management.
3. In the IP Address text box, enter the IP address of the computer that will be remotely managing your router.
If the remote computer has a dynamic IP, or if you don't know what computer you'll be using for remote management, just enter an asterisk (*) in the IP Address box. Doing this allows any computer at any IP address to access the router, provided it has the correct password.
4. Specify the port that will be used to access the router.
If you're accessing the router over the Internet using a Web browser, choose Port 80, which is the port used by Web browsers.
5. Enable remote management and click OK or Apply to apply your settings.
Manage your access point remotely
1. Launch a Web browser on the remote computer.
2. In the Address bar of the Web browser, enter the IP address for your home network, followed by a colon, and then the port number specified in your router for remote access.
Remember, you need to determine your home IP address while you're actually at home, using your home network.
3. Press the Enter key.
4. Log in to your router/WAP using your administrative account name and password.
After you're logged in you should be able to perform all administrative tasks of your router/WAP as normal.
| Disable remote management when you're not using it. When remote management is enabled, hackers can more easily gain access to your router's control panel over the Internet and gain access to the rest of your network. |
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